Reviews Don't Dampen Clinton Book Buzz

[kskiska]

NEW YORK - Reviews have been discouraging and conservatives are on the attack, but booksellers still expect the best as they brace for Tuesday's release of Bill Clinton (news - web sites)'s "My Life," the year's most anticipated nonfiction book.

"It's like adult Harry Potter (news - web sites) mania. We haven't seen anything like this since J.K. Rowling (news - web sites) came here," said Michael Link, a bookseller for Politics & Prose, a Washington-based store that will stay open late Monday night and begin selling "My Life" at midnight Tuesday.

Alfred A. Knopf has given the former president's memoirs a first printing of 1.5 million.

(snip)

Sixteen franchises of the Borders superstore chain will stay open past midnight. Barnes & Noble also will begin selling "My Life" at midnight, at one franchise each in New York and Washington.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=529&e=1&u=/ap/20040621/ap_en_ot/clinton_book

[Bluzmann57]

1. Well here's the deal about reviews

Those who have made a living bashing Clinton cannot handle the fact that he will actually be rich when its all said and done, so they have something else to rip him about now. At least thats my theory. Limbaugh and others of his ilk never liked Clinton and never will so they will pan the book. Thinking people, however, will read it and judge for themselves. Hey, how do I get a job as a critic? It might not be too bad to read a few pages of a book and determine what it's like.

[lancdem]

2. Reviews don't matter one iota

Hey, people attend movies that get bad reviews. BTW, preorders of the book topped 2 million. Wow!

[Carolina]

3. exactly

how many times have you liked a movie that critics panned or loathed one they loved?! Who cares what they think? Same holds true for books.

The volume of pre-orders and the likely turnout at book signings will be the sweetest revenge. The RW continues to shoot itself in the foot by over-stepping. Criticize Bill, the people flock to him. Try to silence Moore and the people's curiosity is piqued.

[Spazito]

4. I NEVER buy a book, go to a movie or rent a video based on reviews...

in fact, I never read reviews. Usually that which is highly recommended is actually dry, boring, crappy and not worth the money spent on whatever they have reviewed.

I go by word of mouth, the story line etc.

[1monster]

10. Yeah! I made the mistake of reading COLD MOUNTAIN when I got

it by accident from my book club, instead of sending it back, because the reviews were so overhwhelmingly positive and even glowing.

It has got to be one of the most depressing, overrated pieces of garbage I have ever read. I kept waiting for it to get better and it didn't. I figured at least the ending would make up for slogging through all that mud and blood and boredom. I was wrong. The ending was just a final insult for the person who managed to get through all that.

Book reviews are very subjective. If the folks reviewing Clinton's book dislike, hate, or are indifferent to Clinton, chances are very good that they will dislike, hate, or be indifferent to his book.

edit: typo

[daleo]

5. Clinton is a smart guy so the book is probably well written

And interesting. The thrice divorced drug addict Limbaugh is obviously a very poor candidate for a reviewer. Has he had a trial date set yet?

[leetrisck]

6. Mine is one the way - mailed

today. Can't wait.

[Raster]

7. my favorite comment is from flush limpballs....

...stating that Clinton should call his book "My Lie." Oh Really? Mr. Lie-About-Everything. Just the thought of flush limpballs accusing ANYONE of lieing is enough to bring on the giggles. This coming from a severely closeted homosexual that lies each and every day about his sexual orientation. Not to mention all the little lies about his drug problems... Once again, flush is one of those conservative pigs I would love to see investigated to the nnnth degree. You just know that pig is COVERED in dirt.

[ElementaryPenguin]

8. It's the same reviewer who trashed Hillary's book!!! (NYT)

Woman with a Japanese name. I wrote it down - misplaced it. She destroys lots of stuff - didn't hurt Hillary's sales!

[GoldenOldie]

9. NYT Critic Michiko Kakutani

Her review was almost verbatim with the one she did on Hil's book. She is not only a bad critic, she is a lazy one.

[Longhorn]

11. I liked Hillary's book!

I read it cover to cover and I'm not sure I've ever read someone's biography before that wasn't a class assignment back when I was in school! I found it extremely interesting. I felt that I could really identify with Hillary as I am about ten years younger and was raised in the Midwest by Republicans and then came to my own Democratic views when I went to college (where I was brainwashed by those liberals at the University of Texas, according to my mother! ;) )

Anyway, I can't wait to read Bill's book!

[RebelOne]

12. Sean Insannity is all up in arms because of all

the publicity about Clinton's book. And of course, he had to read the New York Times review over and over because it was not favorable to Clinton. What an asshole!!!!